CALL For the 2016 Democratic National Convention

CALL
For the 2016 Democratic National Convention

Issued by the Democratic Party of the United States

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Chair

As Adopted by the Democratic National Committee, August 23, 2014


TABLE OF CONTENTS
Articles
I.

Distribution of Delegate Votes .....................................................................1

II.

Qualifications of State Delegations..............................................................3

III.

Delegate Selection Deadline .........................................................................4

IV.

Certification Requirements ...........................................................................4

V.

Management of the 2016 Democratic National Convention
Operations .......................................................................................................6

VI.

Presidential Candidates ................................................................................7

VII.

Standing Committees on Platform, Rules and Credentials of the
2016 Democratic National Convention .......................................................7

VIII.

Procedural Rules for the
2016 Democratic National Convention ......................................................13

Appendix A.

Relationship Between the 2016 Rules of Procedure of the
Credentials Committee and the 2016 Delegate Selection Rules ..............21
Rules of Procedure of the Credentials Committee of the 2016
Democratic National Convention ................................................................21

Appendix B.

Delegate/Alternate Allocation ....................................................................32

Appendix C.

Allocation of Convention Pages ..................................................................36

Appendix D.

Allocation of Standing Committee Members ...........................................37




CALL
For the 2016 Democratic National Convention
To Whom It May Concern:

By authority of the Democratic National Committee, the National Convention of the Democratic Party is hereby
scheduled to convene on July 25, 2016, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at an hour to be announced, to select nominees
for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States of America, to adopt and promulgate a platform and
to take such other actions with respect to such other matters as the Convention may deem advisable.

I.

Distribution of Delegate
Votes

The distribution of votes, delegates and
alternates to the 2016 Democratic National
Convention shall be in accordance with the
following:
A. The number of Convention votes for
delegates to the Convention shall be as set
forth in the compilation included in this

resolution and determined as provided in
paragraphs B, C, D, E, F, G, and H1.
B. A base of 3,200 delegate votes is distributed
among the 50 states and the District of
Columbia according to a formula giving
equal weight to the sum of the vote for the
Democratic candidates in the three (3) most
recent presidential elections and to
population by electoral vote. The formula is
expressed mathematically as follows:
A = 1  SDV 2004  SDV 2008  SDV 2012  SEV 
2  TDV 2004  TDV 2008  TDV 2012

538 

A = Allocation Factor
SDV = State Democratic Vote
SEV = State Electoral Vote
TDV = Total Democratic Vote
To determine the base delegation for each
state and the District of Columbia, the
allocation factors as determined by the
above formula are multiplied by 3,200.

1

See Appendix B for the allocation of delegates and alternates.

Fractions of .5 and above are rounded up to
the next highest integer.

C. 1. For purposes of this paragraph C, the
period of time in which the first
determining stage of the presidential
nomination process takes place during
2016 shall be divided into Stages as
follows:
Stage I:

The earliest date specified in
Rule 11 of the Delegate
Selection Rules through March
31, 2016, inclusive.

Stage II: April 1 through April 30, 2016,
inclusive.
Stage III: May 1 through June 14, 2016,
inclusive.
2. A percentage of the base delegate votes
determined pursuant to paragraphs B
and E shall be added to the number of
base pledged delegates otherwise
determined pursuant to those
paragraphs, for the purpose of
increasing the size of the base pledged
delegation, as follows:
a. for any state in which the meeting,
caucus, convention or primary
which constitutes the first
determining stage in the
presidential nomination process in

that state occurs in 2016 on a date in
Stage II, the percentage shall be 10%;
and in which the meeting, caucus,
convention or primary which
constitutes the first determining
stage in the presidential nomination
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2016 Call for the Democratic National Convention
process in that state occurs in 2016
on a date in Stage III, the percentage
shall be 20%.
b. for any state in which the meeting,
caucus, convention or primary
which constitutes the first
determining stage in the
presidential nomination process in
that state is held in a regional
cluster, that percentage shall be an
additional 15 percent added onto
the base delegate vote without
accounting for any adjustments
made pursuant to Article I.C.2.a.
States deemed to qualify as a
regional cluster shall have contests
that are:
i.

held in conjunction with

at least two other
neighboring states
holding similar contests;
and

ii.

on or after the fourth
Tuesday in March.

D. Fifteen percent (15%) of the base delegate
votes determined pursuant to paragraphs B
and E shall be added to the number of votes
allocated for the purpose of representing
pledged Party and Elected Official
delegates. For purposes of this paragraph,
the number of base delegate votes
determined pursuant to paragraph B shall
be the number determined thereunder after
rounding. Fractions of .5 and above
resulting from the multiplication required
by this paragraph are rounded up to the
next highest integer.
E. American Samoa, Guam, the Northern
Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands will
each receive six (6) at-large delegate votes.
Democrats Abroad will receive twelve (12)
at-large and one (1) pledged Party and
Elected Official delegate votes. Puerto Rico
will receive forty-four (44) base delegate

votes.

F. Unpledged votes shall be allocated to each
delegation to accommodate the members of
the Democratic National Committee from
that state or territory in which they legally
reside. The size of such a member’s vote
(i.e., whole or fractional) shall be the same
size as that which he or she is allowed to
cast at meetings of the Democratic National
Committee. Additional unpledged
delegates shall be allocated for other officers
serving in three (3) positions created by the
Democratic National Committee in
accordance with Article 3, Section 1.e. of the
Charter of the Democratic Party of the
United States.
G. Unpledged votes shall be allocated to
provide for the Democratic President, the
Democratic Vice President, and all former
Democratic Presidents, all former
Democratic Vice Presidents, all former
Democratic Leaders of the United States
Senate, all former Democratic Speakers of
the United States House of Representatives
and Democratic Minority Leaders, as
applicable, and all former Chairpersons of
the Democratic National Committee.2 Such
delegates shall be seated with the state
delegations from the state in which they

have their voting residences.
H. Additional unpledged votes shall be added
if needed to provide for the Democratic
Governor3 (if any) from that state or
territory and for the Democratic Members of
the United States House of Representatives
and Democratic United States Senators from
that state or territory (if any).4
I.

Each state, the District of Columbia and
Puerto Rico may select a number of
alternates equivalent to one (1) alternate for
every twelve (12) Convention votes received

2
Former Chairpersons of the Democratic National Committee shall
include National Chairs and General Chairs.
3
The Mayor of the District of Columbia, if a Democrat, shall be
treated as a Democratic Governor.
4
The District of Columbia’s Statehood Senators, if Democrats, shall
be treated as Democratic United States Senators.

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2016 Call for the Democratic National Convention

J.

II.

by it pursuant to paragraphs B, C, D, and E,
provided, however, that each such
delegation shall have at least two (2)
alternates. American Samoa, Democrats
Abroad, Guam, the Northern Mariana
Islands and the Virgin Islands shall each
have one (1) alternate. Fractions of .5 and
above are rounded up to the next highest
integer. It is further provided that each
state shall have the additional number of atlarge alternates necessary to provide at least
one alternate for each presidential candidate
who is entitled to delegates from that state,
if the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee
determines that the number of alternates
allocated to the state is not sufficient for
each presidential candidate to have at least
one alternate.

National Convention. It shall be the duty of
the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee to
administer the delegate selection process
and ensure compliance with the rules,
including equal division, and report to the
Secretary of the Democratic National
Committee those states which are in noncompliance. Only delegates and alternates
selected under a delegate selection

procedure approved by the DNC Rules and
Bylaws Committee shall be placed on the
Temporary Roll of the 2016 Democratic
National Convention. Only standing
committee members and convention pages
chosen pursuant to a state delegate selection
procedure approved by the DNC Rules and
Bylaws Committee shall be qualified to
serve in their respective capacities.

Members of the Democratic National
Committee and delegates selected pursuant
to paragraphs G and H will be ineligible to
serve as delegates under any other category
and may hold no more than one (1) vote.
Democratic Governors, Democratic
Members of the United States House of
Representatives and Democratic United
States Senators who are members of the
Democratic National Committee shall serve
as delegates by virtue of their membership
on the National Committee.

B. It is understood that a State Democratic
Party, in electing and certifying delegates
and alternates to the Democratic National
Convention, thereby undertakes to assure
all Democratic voters in the state a full,
timely and equal opportunity to participate
in the delegate selection process and in all

Party affairs and to implement affirmative
action plans and inclusion programs toward
that end; that the delegates and alternates to
the Convention shall be selected in
accordance with the Delegate Selection
Rules for the 2016 Democratic National
Convention adopted by the Democratic
National Committee on August 23, 2014;
and that the delegates it certified will not
publically support or campaign for any
candidate for President or Vice President
other than the nominees of the Democratic
National Convention. Furthermore, voters
in the state will have the opportunity to cast
their election ballots for the Presidential and
Vice Presidential nominees selected by said
Convention, and for electors pledged
formally and in good conscience to the
election of these Presidential and Vice
Presidential nominees, under the label and
designation of the Democratic Party of the
United States.

Qualifications of State
Delegations

A. Notice is hereby given that delegates,
alternates and standing committee members
to the Democratic National Convention
shall be elected in accordance with the

Charter and Bylaws of the Democratic Party
of the United States, the Delegate Selection
Rules for the 2016 Democratic National
Convention, the Call for the 2016
Democratic National Convention, and the
Regulations of the DNC Rules and Bylaws
Committee. The DNC Rules and Bylaws
Committee shall have the final authority to
regulate the delegate selection process,
subject to the authority of the Convention
Credentials Committee and the Democratic

C. It is presumed that the delegates to the
Democratic National Convention, when
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2016 Call for the Democratic National Convention
certified pursuant to the Call, are bona fide
Democrats who are faithful to the interests,
welfare and success of the Democratic Party
of the United States, who subscribe to the
substance, intent and principles of the
Charter and the Bylaws of the Democratic
Party of the United States, and who will
participate in the Convention in good faith.
Therefore, no additional assurances shall be
required of delegates to the Democratic
National Convention in the absence of a
credentials contest or challenge.

III.

Delegate Selection
Deadline

All state parties are required to take all steps
necessary and appropriate to complete the
process of selecting delegates to the 2016
Democratic National Convention no later than
June 25, 2016.

members of the United States House of
Representatives and all Democratic
members of the United States Senate;
and all former Democratic Presidents,
Vice Presidents, Democratic Leaders of
the United States Senate, Speakers and
Democratic Minority Leaders of the
United States House of Representatives,
and Chairs of the Democratic National
Committee.
C. Presidential Preference:
Ten (10) days after the completion of the
state’s delegate selection process, each
state’s Democratic Chair shall certify in
writing to the Secretary of the Democratic
National Committee the presidential
preference (including uncommitted) of the
state’s delegates.

D. Replacements:

IV.

Certification
Requirements

A. Pledged Delegates and Alternates: Each
state’s Democratic Chair shall certify in
writing to the Secretary of the Democratic
National Committee the election of his or
her state’s delegates and alternates to the
Democratic National Convention ten (10)
days after their election. For the purposes
of this Call, the Chair of a committee
constituted pursuant to Rule 20.C. of the
Delegate Selection Rules, shall be
recognized to act in place of the state’s
Democratic Chair.
B. Unpledged Delegates:
1. Pursuant to Rule 9.A. of the Delegate
Selection Rules, official confirmation by
the Secretary of the Democratic National
Committee to each State Democratic
Chair shall constitute verification of the
following unpledged delegates:
members of the Democratic National
Committee; the Democratic President,
Vice President and Democratic
Governor, if applicable; all Democratic

1. Pledged Delegates and Alternates:
Replacement of a delegate (due to
resignation or death) by an alternate
and replacement of a vacant alternate
position shall be certified in writing by
the State’s Democratic Chair to the
Secretary of the Democratic National
Committee (pursuant to Rule 18 of the
Delegate Selection Rules) within three
(3) days after the replacement is
selected. Certification of replacements
will be accepted by the Secretary up to
72 hours before the first official session
of the Convention is scheduled to
convene.
2. Unpledged Delegates:
a. Members of Congress and
Democratic Governors shall not be
entitled to name a replacement. In
the event of any changes or
vacancies in a state’s Democratic
congressional delegation following
the official confirmation and prior to
the commencement of the National
Convention, the Secretary shall
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2016 Call for the Democratic National Convention

allocated among the 57 delegations as
follows:5

recognize only such changes as have
been officially recognized by the
Democratic Caucus of the United
States House of Representatives or
the Democratic Conference of the
United States Senate. In the event of
a change or vacancy in a state’s
office of Governor following the
official confirmation and prior to the
commencement of the National
Convention, the Secretary shall
recognize only such changes as have
been officially recognized by the
Democratic Governors’ Association.
b.

c.

a. Each of the 50 States, the District of
Columbia and Puerto Rico shall
have a minimum of two (2) pages.
b. One (1) additional page will be
allocated to a state for every fifty
(50) additional delegate votes.
Fractions of .5 and above are
rounded up to the next highest
integer.

c.

Members of the Democratic
National Committee shall not be
entitled to a replacement, nor shall
the state be entitled to a
replacement, except in the case of
death of such delegates. In cases
where a state’s DNC membership
changes following the Secretary’s
official confirmation, but prior to the
commencement of the 2016
Democratic National Convention,
acknowledgment by the Secretary of
the certification of the new DNC
member shall constitute verification
of the corresponding change of
unpledged delegates.

2. The National Chairperson of the
Democratic National Committee may
select not more than twenty-five (25)
pages to assist him/her and the
Democratic National Convention
Committee in carrying out the work of
the Convention.
3. The State Chair shall certify the
person(s) to serve as the Delegation’s
Convention Page(s), as allocated to the
delegation by this section. Such

certification shall be in writing to the
Secretary of the Democratic National
Committee and shall be made no later
than the time the state certifies its
standing committee members pursuant
to Article VIII.B.3. of this Call. The
National Chairperson of the Democratic
National Committee shall certify the
person(s) to serve as the Chair’s
Convention Page(s), as allocated to the
National Chairperson by this section.
Such certification shall be in writing to
the Secretary of the Democratic National
Committee and shall be made within
three (3) days after these positions are
filled, but in any event, no later than
June 25, 2016.

Delegates allocated pursuant to
Articles I.F., I.G. and I.H. of this Call
shall not be entitled to name a
replacement, nor shall the state be
entitled to a replacement.

E. Delegation Chair: Each delegation shall
select one (1) person to serve as Delegation
Chair. The State Chair shall certify the
Delegation Chair. Such certification shall be
in writing to the Secretary of the Democratic
National Committee within three (3) days

after the position is filled, which shall be no
later than the date by which the state
certifies its standing committee members.
F. Convention Pages:
1. A base of 151 Convention Pages shall be

American Samoa, Democrats
Abroad, Guam, the Northern
Mariana Islands, and the Virgin
Islands shall each be allocated one
(1) page.

5

See Appendix C for the allocation of Convention Pages.

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2016 Call for the Democratic National Convention
G. Certification Requirements: Each
certification required herein will include full
name, address and other information as
required by the Secretary of the Democratic
National Committee.

V.

Management of the 2016
Democratic National

Convention Operations

A. The Democratic National Committee has the
authority to plan, arrange, manage and
conduct the Democratic National
Convention.
B. In its sole discretion, the Democratic
National Committee may establish and
organize a 2016 Democratic National
Convention Committee (“DNCC”) to
exercise the authority on behalf of the
Democratic National Committee and the
Democratic National Convention, to enter
into contracts relating to business and
financial matters connected with the
conduct of the 2016 Democratic National
Convention, in compliance with the
parameters for convention operations set
forth herein.
C. The DNC shall make every effort to exercise
its authority in accordance with the
following guidelines, subject to Rule 20.C. of
the Delegate Selection Rules:
1. Contractors: The DNC shall as a policy
seek to engage the services of unionized
firms, including those owned by
minorities, women and people with
disabilities.
2. Housing: The DNC shall design and
implement a fair and equitable system

by which hotel facilities shall be
allocated to eligible state delegations
and to presidential candidates.
3. Delegate and Alternate Seating in
Convention Hall: The DNC shall design
and implement a fair and equitable
system by which the location of each

eligible state delegation’s seating in the
Convention Hall shall be determined.
Alternates shall be afforded preferential
seating, as close to delegate seating as
arrangements will permit. Members of
Democratic National Convention
Standing Committees who are not
already delegates or alternates shall be
afforded guest seating for each session
of the Convention proceedings.
4. Delegates’ and Alternates’ Credentials:
The state’s delegate and alternate
credentials shall be distributed to the
Chair of the state delegation from the
credentials office.
5. Floor Access: Floor access shall be given
to delegates, alternates replacing
delegates, the highest ranking
Democratic official in each state that
does not have a Democratic Governor,
each State Democratic Party’s Executive
Director, such number of

representatives of the presidential
candidates as may be deemed necessary
by the DNC, and such press personnel
and other personnel as may be
determined by the DNC to be necessary
for the proper functioning of the
Convention and which does not
compromise security and safety
requirements.
6. Visitor’s Seating: Seats for memberselect of the Democratic National
Committee as certified by the state’s
Democratic Chair, guests and other
observers shall be allocated for and shall
be fairly apportioned to the states
according to each state’s relative
delegate strength. The Delegation Chair
and the State Democratic Chair shall
each be given one half of the credentials
for guest seats apportioned to the state
pursuant to this paragraph. Presidential
preference shall be taken into account in
the distribution of guest credentials.

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2016 Call for the Democratic National Convention
7. Communications:
a.

b.

c.

Microphones: Each state shall be
provided one (1) floor microphone
which shall be located at the
position of the Chair of the state
delegation. Each delegate shall have
access to the microphone.
Telephones: Adequate provisions
shall be made for communication
between the floor and the Chair of
the Convention so as to advise the
Chair of the identity of any delegate
seeking recognition to speak and the
purpose for which recognition is
sought. One (1) such telephone
shall be provided for each state
delegation.
General: The DNC may, in its
discretion, promulgate guidelines or
restrictions regarding the use of
communications equipment on the
floor of the Convention.

8. Facilities for Presidential Candidates:
The National Chairperson of the
Democratic National Committee and
representatives of the presidential

candidates shall design and implement
a fair and equitable system whereby
facilities in the Convention Hall and its
immediate environs shall be fairly
apportioned to presidential campaigns
so as not to afford an undue advantage
to any presidential candidate. The cost
of such facilities shall be paid by the
presidential campaigns.
9. Facilities for News Media and Press
Seating: There shall be made available
adequate facilities, as close to the
Convention floor as conditions permit,
for the print press, radio, on-line, and
television, including a limited number
of camera positions commanding a full
view of the proceedings. The cost of
such facilities shall not be borne by the
DNC.

10. Security: Coordination for security
within the Convention Hall, premises
and surrounding area shall be under the
authority of the DNC.
11. Financial Reports: All financial reports
relating to convention financing
required by the Federal Election
Campaign Act of 1971, as amended, and
applicable Federal Elections
Commission regulations shall be filed

by the DNC or its authorized
committees.

VI.

Presidential Candidates

The term “presidential candidate” herein shall
mean any person who, as determined by the
National Chairperson of the Democratic
National Committee, has accrued delegates in
the nominating process and plans to seek the
nomination, has established substantial support
for his or her nomination as the Democratic
candidate for the Office of the President of the
United States, is a bona fide Democrat whose
record of public service, accomplishment, public
writings and/or public statements affirmatively
demonstrates that he or she is faithful to the
interests, welfare and success of the Democratic
Party of the United States, and will participate
in the Convention in good faith.

VII. Standing Committees on
Platform, Rules and
Credentials of the 2016
Democratic National
Convention
The Democratic National Committee, acting
under its authority to issue the Call and

establish the standing committees of the
National Convention, hereby creates and
organizes the Standing Committees on
Platform, Rules, and Credentials of the 2016
Democratic National Convention. The
jurisdiction and rules of procedure of each
standing committee are set forth in this Call to
the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
Each standing committee may, by a majority of
the members voting, adopt additional rules of
procedure for the conduct of its business not
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2016 Call for the Democratic National Convention
inconsistent with this Call. The Democratic
National Committee shall publish and make
available all relevant requirements and
deadlines for submitting proposals for
consideration by the standing committees. Such
information shall be distributed to the standing
committee members and made available to the
public as early as practicable before the
committees meet.
A. Membership: Subject to Rule 20.C. of the
Delegate Selection Rules, each standing
committee shall be composed of:
1. Base: A base of 162 members, casting
158.25 votes, allocated to the states and
territories in accordance with the same

distribution formula used to allocate
delegates to the Democratic National
Convention.6
2. PLEOs: 25 members, each casting one
(1) vote who shall be Party Leaders and
Elected Officials.
3. Delegate Status: Members of the
standing committees need not be
delegates or alternates to the
Democratic National Convention.
4. Quorum: A majority of the total votes
allocated to a standing committee shall
constitute a quorum thereof for the
purpose of transacting business. Such
votes shall be present and represented
by the standing committee members.
Upon a point of order of no quorum, the
Chair shall ascertain the presence or
absence of a quorum by visual
estimation and shall not proceed until a
quorum is present, provided, however,
that a roll call shall be had to determine
whether a quorum exists if the Chair is
in doubt or upon demand of any
member of the standing committee
supported by:
a.

6

twenty percent (20%) of the
members of the committee as

See Appendix D for the allocation of standing committee members.

evidenced by a petition submitted to
the Chair indicating support of the
demand by not less than twenty
percent (20%) of the members
present, or
b.

by the rising in support of the
demand by not less than twenty
percent (20%) of the members
present, except that a motion to
adjourn or to recess may be offered
and voted upon without a quorum
present.

5. Proxies: As the standing committees are
deliberative bodies of the National
Convention, proxy voting by standing
committee members shall not be
permitted.
6. Subcommittees: Any subcommittee of
the standing committees of the National
Convention shall be composed only of
members of standing committees,
except that these subcommittees may be

chaired by persons other than members
of the committee.
B. Election:
1. The members of the standing
committees allocated to the states and
territories shall be elected by each state’s
National Convention delegates present
at a meeting of which adequate notice of
time and place shall be given and at
which a quorum of the state’s delegates
shall be present. Such meeting shall be
held in accordance with procedures
approved by the DNC Rules and Bylaws
Committee and consistent with this Call.
Such meeting shall take place within 14
days after the final selection of a state’s
delegation, but no such meeting shall be
held after June 25, 2016.
2. The members of the standing
committees allocated as Party Leaders
and Elected Officials shall be elected by
the Executive Committee of the
Democratic National Committee during
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2016 Call for the Democratic National Convention
the calendar year of the National
Convention upon nomination received
from the National Chairperson of the

Democratic National Committee, after
consultation with the State Chairs from
those states from which members are
contemplated to be nominated. Said
members must be elected at a meeting
of the Executive Committee or by mail
ballot no later than 30 days prior to the
date of the standing committee meeting.
3. Each state’s Democratic Chair shall
certify in writing to the Secretary of the
Democratic National Committee his or
her state’s standing committee members
within three (3) days after their
selection. The National Chairperson of
the Democratic National Committee
shall certify in writing to the Secretary
of the Democratic National Committee
the Party Leader and Elected Official
standing committee members within
three (3) days after their election.
Certification of each person will include
full name, address and other
information as required by the Secretary
of the Democratic National Committee.
4. No substitutions will be permitted in the
case of standing committee members,
except in the case of resignation or
death. Substitutions must be made in
accordance with the election procedures
specified in Article VII.B., C., D. and E.,

and must be certified in writing to the
Secretary of the Democratic National
Committee, in accordance with
procedures specified in Article VII.B.3.
Substitutions of standing committee
members are encouraged to be made up
to forty-eight (48) hours prior to the
time the standing committee meets,
except in the case of death.
5. Any challenge to the credentials of a
standing committee member shall be
considered and resolved by the affected
standing committee in accordance with
Appendix A of this Call. The DNC
Rules and Bylaws Committee shall have

jurisdiction over challenges brought
before the 56th day preceding the date
of commencement of the Democratic
National Convention.
C. Presidential Preference:
1. The members of the standing
committees allocated to the states and
territories shall proportionately
represent the presidential preference of
all candidates (including uncommitted
status) receiving the threshold
percentage used in that state’s
delegation to calculate the at-large
apportionment pursuant to Rule 13.E. of

the Delegate Selection Rules, provided,
however, that members of the standing
committees from primary states shall be
allocated to presidential candidates
(including uncommitted status) based
on the statewide popular vote.
2. The presidential preference percentage
of each candidate receiving the
applicable percentage or more within
the delegation shall be multiplied by the
total number of standing committee
positions allocated to that state or
territorial delegation. If the result of
such multiplication does not equal 0.455
or above, the presidential preference in
question is not entitled to representation
on the standing committee. If the result
of such multiplication is 0.455 but less
than 1.455, the presidential preference in
question is entitled to one (1) position.
Those preferences securing more than
1.455 but less than 2.455 are entitled to
two (2) positions, etc.
3. Where the application of this formula
results in the total allocation exceeding
the total number of committee positions,
the presidential candidate whose
original figure of representation is
farthest from its eventual rounded-off
total shall be denied that one (1)

additional position. Where the
application of this formula results in the
total allocation falling short of the total
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2016 Call for the Democratic National Convention
number of committee positions, the
presidential candidate whose original
figure of representation is closest to the
next rounding level shall be allotted an
additional committee position.
4. Standing committee positions allocated
to a presidential candidate shall be
proportionately allocated, to the extent
practicable, to each of the three standing
committees. When such allocation
results in an unequal distribution of
standing committee positions by
candidate preference, a drawing shall be
conducted to distribute the additional
positions.
D. Presidential Candidate Right of Approval:
1. Each presidential candidate or that
candidate’s representative authorized
pursuant to Rule 12.D.1. of the 2016
Delegate Selection Rules shall be given
adequate notice of the meeting of the
state’s delegation authorized to select
standing committee members.

2. The delegation shall select the standing
committee members from among names
submitted by the presidential
candidates (including uncommitted
status), and presidential candidates
shall not be required to submit the name
of more than one person for each slot
awarded to such candidate for members
of standing committees. Provided
further, that presidential candidates
(including uncommitted status) shall
use their best efforts to ensure that the
name or names of standing committee
members submitted help achieve the
affirmative action goals established by
the state’s Delegate Selection Plan.
E. Division Between Men and Women:
1. The membership of each of the standing
committees from a state or territory
shall be as equally divided among men
and women as possible under the state
allocation; if the number is even, the

membership shall be equally divided
between men and women; if the number
is odd, the variance between men and
women may not exceed one (1), and the
advantaged gender must not remain
constant for the three standing
committees. The DNC Rules and

Bylaws Committee shall have
continuing jurisdiction to ensure
compliance with this equal division
requirement. No standing committee
members from a state shall be officially
recognized unless the Rules and Bylaws
Committee has certified to the Secretary
of the Democratic National Committee
that such state’s standing committee
delegation complies with this equal
division rule. It is the duty of the DNC
Rules and Bylaws Committee to
determine such compliance as soon as
practicable following the certification of
the state’s standing committee
members.
2. The Party Leader and Elected Official
membership of the standing committees
elected by the Executive Committee of
the Democratic National Committee
shall be divided among men and
women so that the variance between
men and women does not exceed one
(1), and the advantaged gender must
not remain constant for the three
standing committees.
F. Chairs of Standing Committees:
1. The Chair(s) of each Standing
Committee shall be elected by the
Executive Committee of the Democratic

National Committee upon nomination
of the National Chairperson of the
Democratic National Committee. CoChair(s) and Vice Chair(s) may also be
elected in this manner.
2. Individuals who are not otherwise
members of the standing committees
who are elected Chair(s), Co-Chair(s) or
Vice Chair(s) thereof shall not have any
voting privileges on the standing
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2016 Call for the Democratic National Convention
committees, except that the Chair(s),
may vote in the case of a tie.
3.

The Chair(s) of each standing committee
shall call and preside over each
committee meeting, prepare an agenda
to provide for orderly conduct of the
committee’s business, and supervise
preparation of such research studies and
briefing materials as are required to
accomplish the committee’s work.

G. Platform Committee:
1. The Platform Committee shall be
responsible for drafting and
recommending the Platform of the

Democratic Party to the Democratic
National Convention.
2. The Chair(s) of the Platform Committee,
in consultation with the National
Chairperson of the Democratic National
Committee, shall determine the number,
place and time for conducting hearing(s)
and/or forum(s) and name the
presiding panel, who need not be
members of the Platform Committee, for
each hearing and/or forum. Any
person may submit a written statement
concerning the Platform to the Platform
Committee at any time prior to the
Platform Committee meeting, and may
request permission to testify at a public
hearing and/or forum.
3. No later than thirty (30) days before the
first meeting of the Platform Committee,
written notice of the date, time, place,
and the tentative agenda of such
meeting shall be sent to all members of
the Platform Committee. A special or
emergency meeting of the Platform
Committee may be held upon call of the
Chair(s) of the Platform Committee with
reasonable notice to the members.
4. Prior to the first meeting of the Platform
Committee, the National Chairperson of
the Democratic National Committee

shall distribute to the members of the
Platform Committee a document

outlining the issues to be considered by
the committee.
5. The National Chairperson of the
Democratic National Committee, in
consultation with the Chair(s) of the
Platform Committee, shall appoint
fifteen (15) persons to serve on a
Platform Drafting Subcommittee and
the National Chairperson of the
Democratic National Committee shall
appoint the Chair(s) thereof. In
addition, one (1) non-voting member
may be appointed by each presidential
candidate to serve on the Drafting
Subcommittee. The Platform Drafting
Subcommittee is considered a
subcommittee of the Platform
Committee as defined in Article I.A.6
provided, however, that members of the
Platform Drafting Subcommittee need
not be members of the Platform
Committee. The Drafting Subcommittee
shall be responsible for the drafting of
the report of the Platform Committee
under the direction and with the
approval of the full Platform
Committee.

6. Upon the request of members
representing twenty-five percent (25%)
of the total votes of the Platform
Committee, a minority report shall be
prepared for distribution to the
Convention delegates and alternates as
part of the committee’s report. The
committee staff shall assist in the
preparation of such report.
7. The report of the Platform Committee
and any minority reports shall be
distributed to all delegates and
alternates, and to the public as soon as
practicable after their adoption.
H. Rules Committee:
1. The Rules Committee shall issue a
report to the Democratic National
Convention recommending the
Permanent Rules of the Convention, the
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2016 Call for the Democratic National Convention
Convention agenda, the permanent
officers of the Democratic National
Convention, amendments to the Charter
of the Democratic Party of the United
States, and resolutions providing for the
consideration of any other matter not
provided for in the Permanent Rules of

the Convention and not contained in the
reports of other standing committees.
The foregoing notwithstanding, no
amendment to the Charter of the
Democratic Party shall be effective
unless and until it is subsequently
ratified by a vote of the majority of the
entire membership of the Democratic
National Committee.
2. No later than thirty (30) days before the
first meeting of the Rules Committee,
written notice of the date, time, place,
and the tentative agenda of such
meeting shall be sent to all members of
the Rules Committee. A special or
emergency meeting of the Rules
Committee may be held upon call of the
Chair(s) of the Rules Committee with
reasonable notice to the members.
3. Upon the request of members
representing twenty-five percent (25%)
of the total votes of the Rules
Committee, a minority report shall be
prepared for distribution to the
Convention delegates and alternates as
part of the committee’s report. The
committee staff shall assist in the
preparation of such report.
4. The report of the Rules Committee and
any minority reports shall be distributed

to all delegates, alternates, and to the
public as soon as practicable after their
adoption.
I.

Credentials Committee and Procedures for
Challenging Delegates or State Delegations:
1. The Credentials Committee shall
determine and resolve questions
concerning the seating of delegates and
alternates to the Convention pursuant to

the resolution entitled the “Relationship
Between the 2016 Rules of Procedure of
the Credentials Committee and the 2016
Delegate Selection Rules,” which
includes the “Rules of Procedure of the
Credentials Committee of the 2016
Democratic National Convention”
hereby approved and adopted by the
Democratic National Committee, and
set forth in full in the Appendix to this
Call. The committee shall report to the
Convention for final determination and
resolution of all such questions. This
committee does not have authority over
the allocation and distribution of
convention credentials, including passes
for delegates, alternates, guests or press.
2. Challenges to the seating of any

delegate or alternate shall be in
accordance with the Rules of Procedure
of the Credentials Committee. Any
challenge to the seating of a delegate or
alternate that is not made in conformity
with these rules shall be deemed
waived.
3. Upon the request of members
representing twenty-five percent (25%)
of the total votes of the Credentials
Committee, a minority report shall be
prepared for distribution to the
Convention delegates and alternates as
part of the committee’s report;
provided, however, that no member
elected to the committee by a state
delegation may join in such request as to
a proposed minority report relating to a
credentials challenge to any delegate or
alternate from his or her state. The
committee staff shall assist in the
preparation of such report.
4. The report of the Credentials Committee
and any minority reports shall be
distributed to all delegates, alternates,
and the public as soon as practicable
after their adoption.

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2016 Call for the Democratic National Convention
of the report of the Credentials
Committee; provided that no person
shall be permitted to vote on his or her
credentials contest.

VIII. Procedural Rules of the
2016 Democratic National
Convention
The following Procedural Rules shall serve as
the Temporary Rules of Procedure for the 2016
Democratic National Convention and are
recommended to the Rules Committee and to
the Convention as the Permanent Rules of
Procedure for the conduct of the 2016
Democratic National Convention.
A. Temporary Chair:
1. The National Chairperson of the
Democratic National Committee shall
call the Convention to order and shall
preside until the Permanent Chair of the
Convention shall be chosen in
accordance with these rules.
2. The National Chairperson of the
Democratic National Committee shall
appoint a Temporary Secretary and
such other temporary officers as may be
required to assist in the conduct of the
business of the Convention. These

officers shall be composed equally of
men and women.

C. Order of Business: The order of business for
the Democratic National Convention shall
be as provided in these rules and in any
special order of business adopted under
Section D. of these rules. The Chair of the
Convention may, at appropriate times,
interrupt the order of business provided for
in these rules for introductions,
announcements, addresses, presentations,
resolutions of tribute and appreciation, or
remarks appropriate to the business of the
Convention.
1. Report of the Committee on Credentials:
The Report of the Credentials
Committee shall be acted upon before
the consideration of other business.
a. The Temporary Chair shall
recognize the Chair(s) of the
Credentials Committee for up to
thirty (30) minutes to present the
committee’s report unless a longer
period of time shall be provided in a
special order of business agreed
upon by the Convention. The
Chair(s) of the committee may
present committee amendments,
yield part of his or her time to others

and may yield for the presentation
and disposition of minority reports
without losing the right to the floor.

B. Temporary Roll:
1. The Secretary of the Democratic
National Committee shall determine a
Temporary Roll of delegates to the
Convention which shall consist only of
those persons selected and certified as
delegates in accordance with the Rules
and pursuant to this Call, unless a
credentials contest shall have arisen
with respect to any such person(s), in
which case the Secretary shall include
on the Temporary Roll the name of the
credentials contestant recommended for
inclusion by the Credentials Committee
in its report.
2. Persons whose names are included on
the Temporary Roll of delegates shall be
permitted to vote on all matters before
the Convention until after the adoption

b.

The Temporary Chair shall arrange
for the orderly presentation of
amendments and of minority
reports offered at the direction of

the committee. Twenty (20) minutes
shall be allowed for the presentation
of each committee amendment or
minority report unless a longer
period for any committee
amendment or minority report is
provided in special orders of
business agreed to by the
Convention. Time shall be allotted
equally to proponents and
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2016 Call for the Democratic National Convention

c.

d.

opponents of each committee
amendment or minority report. The
questions shall be put on each
committee amendment or minority
report immediately following its
presentation without intervening
motion.

a. In accordance with the requirements
of the 1984 Democratic National
Convention Resolution which calls

for alternating the Convention Chair
by gender, the Permanent Chair of
the 2016 Democratic National
Convention shall be a female.

Upon conclusion of the
consideration and disposition of
committee amendments and
minority reports, the Temporary
Chair shall put the question on the
adoption of the report of the
Credentials Committee with
amendments previously adopted, if
any, without intervening motion. A
favorable majority vote of the
Convention delegates eligible to
vote shall constitute adoption of the
report.

b. The Chair(s) of the Rules Committee
shall be recognized to offer a
nomination for Convention Chair as
recommended by the Committee on
Rules. Nominations from the floor
shall then be received.

In the event that the committee’s
report shall not be adopted when
the question is put, the committee
shall immediately reconvene to

reconsider its report and shall
present a new report to the
Convention as soon as possible.

d. A majority vote of the delegates
present and voting shall be required
to elect the Convention Chair.
Balloting shall continue until a Chair
is elected. The Permanent Chair
shall then take the gavel.

2. Report of Rules Committee: The
Temporary Chair(s) may then recognize
the Chair(s) of the Rules Committee to
present the committee’s report for the
Rules of the Convention and minority
reports, if any, in the same manner as
that provided for the presentation of the
Report of the Credentials Committee.
However, the Temporary Chair may, in
the interest of conducting an orderly
proceeding, opt to place before the
Convention the election of the
Permanent Chair, the Co-Chairs and the
Secretary, prior to the presentation of
the Rules Committee report.
3. Convention Chair: The Convention shall
proceed to elect the Permanent
Convention Chair in the following
manner:

c.

When there are no further
nominations or upon adoption of a
motion to close nominations, the
Temporary Chair of the Convention
shall conduct a vote for Permanent
Convention Chair.

4. Convention Co-Chairs: The Convention
shall proceed to elect Co-Chairs and a
Secretary in the same manner in which
it elected the Chair. The Co-Chairs shall
be divided equally between men and
women.
5. Committee on Platform: The Permanent
Chair shall recognize the Chair(s) of the
Platform Committee to present the
committee’s report and minority
reports, if any, in the same manner as
that provided for the presentations of
the reports of the Credentials and Rules
Committees.
6. Nomination of the Democratic
Candidate for President: The Permanent
Chair shall receive nominations from
the floor for the Democratic candidate
for the Office of President of the United
States in the following manner:

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2016 Call for the Democratic National Convention
a. Requests to nominate a presidential
candidate shall be in writing and
shall have affixed thereto the written
approval of the proposed nominee
and the name of the individuals
who shall be recognized to make the
nominating and seconding speeches
on behalf of a presidential candidate
and shall be delivered to the
Convention Secretary at a location
as specified by the Secretary no later
than 6:00 p.m. of the day preceding
the day designated for the
commencement of presidential
nominations.
b. Each such request must be
accompanied by a petition
indicating support for the proposed
nominee signed by delegates
representing not less than 300 or
more than 600 delegate votes, not
more than 50 of which may come
from one (1) delegation. A delegate
may not sign more than one (1)
nominating petition for president
and for vice president.

c.

The order for nominating
presidential candidates shall be
determined by the National
Chairperson of the Democratic
National Committee, the Permanent
Chair of the Convention and each
presidential candidate, or his or her
authorized representative, who
qualifies to be nominated pursuant
to this section.

d. Each presidential candidate shall be
allowed a total of twenty (20)
minutes for the presentation of his
or her name in nomination by
nominating and seconding speeches,
the time to run without interruption
from the recognition of the
nominator.
e.

Delegates and alternates shall
maintain order during and
following nominations for the Office

of President and demonstrations
shall not be permitted.
7. Roll Call for Presidential Candidate:

a. After nominations for presidential
candidates have closed, the
Convention shall proceed to a roll
call vote by states on the selection of
the presidential candidate. The roll
call voting shall follow the
alphabetical order of the states with
the District of Columbia and Puerto
Rico and the territories treated as
states for the purpose of the
alphabetical roll call.
b. A majority vote of the Convention’s
delegates shall be required to
nominate the presidential candidate.
c.

Delegates may vote for the
candidate of their choice whether or
not the name of such candidate was
placed in nomination. Any vote cast
other than a vote for a presidential
candidate meeting the requirements
of Article VI of this Call and Rule
12.K. of the 2016 Delegate Selection
Rules shall be considered a vote for
“Present.”

d. Balloting will continue until a
nominee is selected. Upon selection,
balloting may be temporarily

suspended, provided that the
balloting shall continue at a time
certain determined by the
Convention Chair, until all states,
the District of Columbia, Puerto
Rico and the territories shall
publically deliver their vote prior to
the nominee’s acceptance speech.
The nominee shall become the
candidate of the Democratic Party of
the United States for the Office of
President upon the conclusion of his
or her acceptance speech.
8. Acceptance Speech by Presidential
Candidate: Immediately after the
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2016 Call for the Democratic National Convention
selection of the Democratic nominee for
President, the Permanent Chair shall
invite the nominee to deliver an
acceptance speech to the Convention.
9. Nomination for the Democratic
Candidate for Vice President: The
selection of a nominee for the Office of
Vice President of the United States shall
be conducted in the same manner as
that heretofore provided for the
selection of the nominee for President of

the United States except that a request
to nominate must be delivered to the
Convention Secretary at a location as
specified by the Secretary not later than
9:00 a.m. of the day designated for the
commencement of Vice Presidential
nominations.
10. Roll Call Ballot for Vice Presidential
Candidate:
a.

After nominations for Vice
Presidential candidates have closed,
the Convention shall proceed to a
roll call vote by states on the
selection of the Vice Presidential
candidate. The roll call voting
procedure shall be conducted in the
same manner as that heretofore
provided for the selection of the
nominee for President of the United
States.

b.

A majority vote of the Convention’s
delegates shall be required to select
the Vice Presidential candidate.
Delegates may vote for the
candidate of their choice whether or

not the name of such candidate was
placed in nomination. Balloting will
continue until a nominee is selected.

11. Acceptance Speech by Vice Presidential
Candidate: Immediately after the
selection of the Democratic nominee for
Vice President, the Permanent Chair
shall invite the nominee to deliver an
acceptance speech to the Convention.
The nominee shall become the candidate

of the Democratic Party of the United
States for the office of Vice President
upon completion of his or her
acceptance speech to the Convention.
D. Special Orders of Business: It shall be in
order at any time for the Rules Committee
at the request of the Chair of the
Convention, or pursuant to its rules, to
report a resolution providing a special order
of business for debate of any resolution,
motion, committee report or minority report
or for the consideration of any matter.
E. Powers and Duties of the Chair:
1. It shall be the responsibility of the Chair
to conduct and expedite the business of
the Convention and to preserve order
and decorum in its proceedings.
2. The Chair is authorized to appoint such

Convention officers as may be required
to assist in the conduct of the business
of the Convention, such officers to be
composed equally of men and women;
to appoint any delegate temporarily to
perform the duties of the Chair; and to
take such lawful action as may be
necessary and appropriate to preserve
order throughout the Convention Hall;
and to take any other actions consistent
with the Charter and the Bylaws of the
Democratic Party of the United States
and this Call.
F. Voting:
1. Secret Ballot: No secret ballots shall be
permitted at any stage of the
Convention or its committee
proceedings.
2. Proxy Voting: Neither delegate nor
alternate delegate votes may be cast by
proxy.
3. Roll Call Votes:
a.

Voting shall be by voice vote or,
when prescribed by these rules, by
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2016 Call for the Democratic National Convention

roll call vote. The roll call voting
shall follow the order as specified in
Article VIII.C.7.a. A roll call vote
shall also be had if the Chair is in
doubt or upon demand of any
delegate supported by twenty-five
percent (25%) of the Convention’s
delegates as evidenced by one of the
following methods:
(1) A petition submitted to the
Chair indicating support of the
demand by not less than twentyfive percent (25%) of the
Convention’s delegates.

location not more than thirty (30)
minutes after the close of each
voting period.
c.

All delegates to the National
Convention pledged to a
presidential candidate shall in all
good conscience reflect the
sentiments of those who elected
them.

d.

In the case where a pledged delegate
is not on the floor of the Convention

Hall at the time a vote is taken, an
alternate may be designated
according to the rules to cast the
vote. In no case may an alternate
cast a vote for a delegate allocated
under I.F., I.G., or I.H. of this Call.

e.

On a roll call vote by states, the vote
cast on behalf of a delegation may
be challenged by communication to
the Convention Secretary by
telephone or other means by any
voting member of that state’s
delegation within ten (10) minutes
after the Convention Secretary’s
announcement of the state’s vote.
The votes of that delegation shall
then be recorded as polled without
regard to any state law, party rule,
resolution or instruction binding the
delegation or any member thereof to
vote for or against any candidate or
proposition. The Convention Chair
may send a parliamentarian to the
delegation to conduct the poll. At
the discretion of the Convention
Chair, the roll call may continue
instead of waiting for the result of

the polling.

(2) By the rising in support of the
demand by not less than twentyfive percent (25%) of the
delegates present.
b.

When a roll call vote is ordered, the
roll call shall be called by states, and
the Chair of each delegation or his
or her designee shall report the vote
of his or her delegation and shall
send to the Convention Secretary a
tally showing the vote of each
member of his or her delegation
indicating whether such vote was
cast in person or by an alternate.
Such roll call votes may be
conducted by having the Chair for
each delegation report by telephone,
or electronic voting mechanism, the
vote of his or her delegation to the
rostrum, provided that the
telephone poll shall not be used in
the balloting for the Presidential and
Vice Presidential nominees.
Business shall be permitted to
proceed during the telephone roll
call and votes may be conducted by
electronic mechanism. After each

official vote, the Delegation Chair
shall record and tally votes of the
delegation on official roll call tally
sheets provided by the Convention
Secretary. All official roll call tally
sheets shall be turned in to the
Convention Secretary at a specified

f. On a roll call vote conducted by
telephone or other electronic voting
mechanism, the vote of a delegation
as shown on the video projection
system may be challenged by
communication to the Convention
Secretary by telephone or other
means by any voting member of the
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2016 Call for the Democratic National Convention
favor of sustaining the ruling of the
Chair; provided that an appeal shall not
be in order while another appeal is
pending or from decisions on
recognition or from decisions on
dilatoriness of motions or during a roll
call vote or on a question on which an
appeal has just been decided or, when in
the opinion of the Chair, such appeal is
clearly dilatory.

delegation within ten (10) minutes
after the delegation’s vote is shown
on the screen.
g. A demand to poll a delegation may
be withdrawn at any time before the
actual polling has begun.
4. Interruption of Vote: When the question
has been put, the vote thereon may not
be interrupted for any purpose other
than a demand for a roll call vote or a
point of order directed to the conduct of
the vote.
5. Determination of Question: Except as
otherwise provided in these rules, all
questions, including the question of
nominations of candidates for President
and Vice President of the United States,
shall be determined by a majority vote
of the delegates to the Convention.
G. Filling a Vacancy on the National Ticket: In
the event of death, resignation or disability
of a nominee of the Party for President or
Vice President after the adjournment of the
National Convention, the National
Chairperson of the Democratic National
Committee shall confer with the Democratic
leadership of the United States Congress
and the Democratic Governors Association
and shall report to the Democratic National

Committee, which is authorized to fill the
vacancy or vacancies.
H. Interpretation of the Rules: In interpreting
the rules, the Chair may have recourse to
the ruling of Chairs of previous Democratic
Conventions, to the precedents of the
United States House of Representatives and
to general parliamentary law.
I.

Appeals:
1. The Chair shall decide all questions of
order subject to an appeal by any
delegate which may be debated for not
more than ten (10) minutes, the time to
be equally divided between the delegate
appealing the ruling and a delegate in

2. Before the question is put on any
appeal, the Chair shall be entitled to
state briefly the reasons for the ruling
being appealed.
J.

Motion to Suspend the Rules: The Chair
shall entertain a motion to suspend the
rules, which shall be decided without
debate and which shall require a vote of two
thirds (2/3) of the delegates voting, a
quorum being present.

K. Motion:
1. No question of privilege or any motion
other than those provided under these
rules shall be entertained, except the
motion to recess (to a time certain or at
the call of the Chair), which shall be
privileged, and the motion to adjourn,
which shall be the highest privilege.
2. Motions to adjourn or to recess shall be
in order at any time except when the
question has been put or a vote is in
progress and shall be decided without
debate. The Chair shall not entertain a
motion to adjourn or recess when such
motion closely follows another such
motion if in the opinion of the Chair
such motion is dilatory.
L. Amendments: No amendments to
resolutions or motions before the
Convention shall be permitted, except
amendments to standing committee reports
or resolutions offered at the direction of the
standing committee or in a minority report
of that standing committee; provided that
no motion or proposition on a subject
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2016 Call for the Democratic National Convention

different from that under consideration
shall be admitted in the form of such an
amendment.
M. Minority Reports: Minority reports of
committees shall not be considered unless
adopted in writing by members
representing at least twenty percent (20%)
of the total votes of a committee. A
minority report may be withdrawn at any
time prior to or during the Convention. A
minority report shall be deemed to be
withdrawn when support for the report falls
below the number of members representing
twenty percent (20%) of the total votes of
the standing committee as evidenced by the
written withdrawal of support by
proponents of the report. A committee
member may withdraw his or her support
for a minority report by written notice to the
Secretary of the Democratic National
Committee.
N. Responsibility: By participating in the
Democratic National Convention, each
delegate assumes the responsibility for
doing all within his or her power to assure
that voters of his or her state will have the
opportunity to cast their election ballots for
the Presidential and Vice Presidential
nominees selected by the Convention or,
should a vacancy arise, pursuant to Article

VIII.G. of these rules, and expressly agrees
that he or she will not publicly support or
campaign for any candidate for President or
Vice President other than the nominees of
the Democratic National Convention, or,
should a vacancy arise, the nominee(s)
selected pursuant to Article VIII.G.
O. Debate: Unless otherwise provided in these
rules or in a resolution providing for a
special order of business, debate on any
question shall be limited to a total of twenty
(20) minutes and shall be equally divided
between proponents and opponents unless
they and the Chair agree upon an additional
or lesser amount of time.

business. Upon a point of order of no
quorum being made, the Chair shall
ascertain the presence or absence of a
quorum by visual estimation and shall not
proceed until a quorum is present; provided
that a motion to adjourn may be offered and
voted upon without a quorum present.
Q. References to the “Chair”: All references to
the authority and responsibilities of the
“Chair” shall pertain to the Temporary
Chair, the Permanent Chair, the Co-Chair(s)
and any other person assuming the duties of
the Chair as appropriate during the
Convention.

R. Equal Division: The Charter of the
Democratic Party of the United States
provides that the National Convention shall
be composed of delegates and alternates
equally divided between men and women.
This Call, in compliance with the Charter,
and pursuant to Rule 6.C. of the 2016
Delegate Selection Rules, mandates that
delegates and alternates from each state and
jurisdiction shall be equally divided
between men and women with a variance of
no more than one (1).
S. Non-Discrimination: Discrimination on the
basis of race, sex, age, color, creed, national
origin, religion, ethnic identity, sexual
orientation, gender identity, economic
status or physical disability in the conduct
of Democratic Party affairs is prohibited.
T. Territories: The term “territories” shall refer
to American Samoa, Democrats Abroad,
Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and
the Virgin Islands in this Call.
U. Journal of Proceedings:
1. A record of all actions taken each day by
the Convention shall be made available
to all delegates and alternates the
following day by the Convention
Secretary.

P. Quorum: A majority of the delegates to the

Convention shall constitute a quorum
thereof for the purpose of transacting
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2. The Secretary of the Democratic
National Committee will provide a
journal of the full proceedings of the
Convention, which shall be printed
within the year following the
Convention.